Tag: interior design

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Top trends in kitchen design for 2019/2020

Decades ago, the kitchen was hidden in the back of the house. It was a place where meals were prepared and dirty dishes were washed. Fast forward to 2019 and the kitchen has a much different role. Today, the kitchen is the focal point of the home, the place that brings everyone together at the start of the day or after a long day way.  Now instead, the kitchen is paraded in all its beauty and warmth at the very center of the house.

TREND #1: SMART KITCHENS

Technology has entered the kitchen in full force and not just in the form of fancy gadgets and appliances. Today, you can have a kitchen with technology integrated into every function and appliance–from the faucets to the fridge to the lighting. This is what we call a smart kitchen.

Smart kitchens are an evolving aspect of design. In fact, a lot of kitchens today are built smart from the ground up. For older kitchens, sensors, smart gadgets and other devices can be added to for convenience to the homeowner.

TREND #2: STREAMLINED DESIGNS & TEXTURES

While styles like farmhouse and mid-century modern are still popular, homeowners are getting more streamlined in their overall aesthetic, designs and alternative materials for kitchens. Stress-free environments are what you would like to come home too, and drown out the day to day stresses of life.  Which usually means, simplicity. Simple looks are all about modern clean lines. They will continue to be a huge hit even in 2020.

TREND #3: EFFECTIVE STORAGE SOLUTION

One of the biggest annoyances with kitchen cabinetry is an unnecessary waste of space. The way the basic shelves and drawers are structured leaves a lot of wasted space. Worst of all, available space is often too small for some of your larger things or the opposite: it’s too wide and does not give you a way to properly and efficiently organize the space.

2020 will also see a range of new kitchen storage options throughout the whole kitchen–focused on making daily lives more effortless and making cooking fun.

TREND #4: MULTIPURPOSE KITCHEN ISLANDS

Kitchen islands are no longer an afterthought or something small to squeeze into space. They have become focal points and the hub of the kitchen. One of the changes emerging is the single level larger sizing, serving multiple uses; especially since we are seeing less wall cabinet space in kitchen design. The kitchen island is meant to create an impact, and its design must make a statement.

TREND #5: CONNECTING WITH THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Literally! Homeowners are connecting the kitchen to an outdoor space or patio. They are also adding entry points from the kitchen to outside entertainment areas. By installing a glass door in your kitchen, you can easily connect these two spaces in your home.

Speak to our team for innovative kitchen design ideas and see what brilliant designs can be brought to life in your new kitchen.

VISIT OUR KITCHEN DESIGN PAGE

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Tips on how to choose the right window blind

Not sure about the different styles of window blinds available? Or confused about what type of blind would be better suited to a particular room of your home? Follow this essential guide which provides you with all the advice you need to help make your decision easier.

MEASURING UP

  • Before you measure up, decide which fitting option you’d prefer: inside or outside the recess. Inside the recess is a good option for windows in small rooms without much wall space around them. It’s also ideal if you are teaming your blind with curtains. For larger rooms, choose a blind that sits outside the recess and blocks out more light.
  • For a blind that’s going inside the window recess, measure the width of the recess at its narrowest point and the height of the recess.
  • For a blind that’s going to hang outside the recess, measure the width of the recess and add 4cm to each side, then measure the height of the recess and add 15cm.
  • Decide which side the pulley and catch should be in case accessing them will be an issue.

CHOOSE A STYLE

Roller blinds roll up or down by means of a cord. To add interest when they’re open, they can have a different fabric on either side. They are an affordable option for informal settings, such as a home office.

Roman blinds give a formal look. They are made from fabric and operate by a pulley. When raised, the blind concertinas into large horizontal pleats, leaving a good segment of fabric on show.

Venetian blinds are slatted blinds made from wood, metal or plastic. They often feature in sleek kitchens or bathrooms, and metal or plastic blinds are a practical choice for rooms with high levels of moisture. As you can filter the light, they are also great for a home office.

CHECK OUR BLINDS PAGE

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Pet Friendly Apartment Decorating Tips

Getting your apartment decorated and suitable for both you and your four-legged friend can be a challenge. Between your own style, your pet’s needs, and your space restrictions, there’s a lot to think about when decorating for a pet friendly apartment. Read on for a few tips about how to decorate with your pet in mind.

DECORATE UP

Use your wall space as much as possible. Tables and bookshelves can be great for storage and aesthetics, but you run the risk of your valuables getting damaged. Your pet might knock into a table while playing in the house and accidentally break vases, picture frames, artwork, or other expensive decorations. Avoid this by placing your decorations out of reach from your pet. Consider floating shelves, hang artwork on the walls, and keep breakable items away from your four-legged friend.

FLOOR RUGS: DO’S AND DON’TS

If you have hardwood floors, you might want to consider skipping the rugs. Cloth absorbs all sorts of things — smells, spills, bacteria — and you can easily avoid this by sticking with hard, smooth surfaces. If your pet has an accident on your hardwood floors, you can easily clean it up without anything soaking into the floor.

On the other hand, if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you might want to consider a rug. Since rugs absorb most of a spill or smell, you can easily toss it in the washing machine. It will protect the carpet beneath it and can add a nice pop of color to an otherwise bland room.

CONSIDER YOUR FABRICS

Thinking of getting a new couch? How about a chic loveseat? Consider the type fabric you’ll be putting in your home or apartment. Is it going to attract your pet’s fur? Will it be easy to remove fur and stains from it? Typically, fabrics like velvet and silk are notoriously bad choices for pet owners. Instead, try furniture made from materials like leather (faux or real) and ultra-suede (machine-washable); they’re both pet friendly and can still create the look you want.

MAKE DEDICATED PLAY AREA

If you’re lucky enough to have space in your home or apartment to create a dedicated play area for your pet, then do it. It could be something as small as a corner of the living room that houses your cat’s scratching post or a basket full of your dog’s chew toys, or even an entire room for your pet to play in while you’re at work. Whatever it looks like for you, confining the play space to one area of the apartment is an easy way to create a pet friendly apartment.

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Tips for Decorating a Bedroom

A bedroom should be a personal getaway, a sanctuary, which expresses your favorite colors, feelings, and collections. Learn the main rules to remember when decorating your bedroom.

CHOOSE SUBTLE COLOR

Instead of bold primary colors, choose soothing shades and a restful palette of monochromatic tones. Remember color theory: gentle hues of blue, lavender, or green are considered calm and serene. Rich jewel-toned hues help set the mood of coziness and comfort. These might include toasty browns, deep pomegranate, or topaz. Use toned-down versions of your favorite colors in the bedroom.

KEEP THE BEDROOM SIMPLE

A bedroom should look cozy and simple, sophisticated, and elegant, regardless of what style of decorating you choose. For ease of movement, leave a minimum of three meters between the bed and side walls or large pieces of furniture and at least two meters between the bed and low furniture, like tables and dressers. If you have to walk around the bed to get from the closet to the bathroom, think of how you can move the bed.

Accessories should be kept to a minimum. Choose a beautiful piece of artwork, arrange some family photos, add flowers and candles, and leave it alone

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE FURNITURE

When you’re ready to buy bedroom furniture, start out with a floor plan and a measured drawing of the space. Furniture should fit the room it lives and this is particularly true for bedroom furniture. Don’t choose a heavy, large bed and dresser for a small bedroom. If the ceiling is high, a tall headboard will help to visibly bring it down to size.

LET YOUR BEDROOM BE A REAL GETAWAY

Try to discipline yourself to keep your cell phone, computer, television, exercise machine, or blackberry out of the bedroom. Create a cherished place to relax and renew. You’ll love having a room dedicated to reading, sleeping, and romance.

Check our Bedroom Design page

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Tips to hanging your curtains the right way

Curtains control light, give you privacy, create warmth and add texture and color to your space. They complete your room! Not only are they pretty to look at but they can also give the illusion of width and height making your window seem higher or wider than it really is. We have put together a few handy guidelines for you to remember the next time you want to add curtains to your window treatment – after all you want your windows to look the best they can be.

TIPS TO REMEMBER

1. Choose a curtain rod that is longer than the window you would like it to cover. A longer curtain rod will allow the curtains to hang on either side of your window – covering them completely when drawn but not blocking the view when opened. This creates the illusion that your window is much wider than it is.

2. If your curtains are not purely for decorative purposes, you need to make sure they are much wider than the actual window they are covering so that your pleats are full when drawn. The last thing you want is for your curtains to look stretched out and flat. The curtains should be twice the width of the actual window for you to take advantage of a fuller look.

3. If you would like your window to look much higher than it really is, raise the curtain rod! Place your curtain rod as close to the ceiling as possible, instead of on the top of your window. This will make your room appear higher than it really is.

4. Your curtain fabric should fall straight down to the floor. If you are worried about the curtains touching the floor and getting dirty, then raise them about 3-5 centimeters above the ground.

5. Fabric is key – choose the right curtain fabric that will match the look and feel of your room. If you prefer a more casual look, go for lighter shades. Darker fabrics give you more privacy and create a more formal sophisticated feel to the room.

When hung correctly, your ceilings could look taller and your room could look much bigger. Some curtains are hung too low or too narrow with not enough fullness…don’t let this happen to you! Put our handy tips to the test and you won’t go wrong.